Opel GT

The influence of parent company GM's Chevrolet's Corvette on Opel's first sports car was obvious. From its distinctive 'shark nose' to its curvaceous flanks, the Opel GT launched in the summer of 1968 was every inch a scaled-down Corvette. But unlike the Chevy, the GT was made from steel and the bodywork was built in France by coachbuilders Brissoneau and Lotz. Power came from a choice of four-cylinder engines: a budget 1.1-liter version or a far more popular 1.9, offering lively performance and incredibly agile handling. Over 80 per cent of cars built were shipped to the USA, where owners relished the idea of a compact Corvette, but many were subsequently shipped back to Europe, where the GT has a much stronger classic following. Production ended in August 1973 after over 100,000 cars had been sold.